A sprawling new urban farm is coming to one unlikely New York venue this month after a $1.5 billion reinvestment into the state’s “Crown Jewel” convention hall.

The Javits Center will have some verdant new features when its renovation is officially unveiled this month thanks to an innovative, collaborative design by Stantec, tvsdesign, WXY, and Brooklyn Grange with green roofers Adaptive Green acting as contractor. The project is a joint venture of LendLease, Turner Construction, and tvsdesign, with Stantec providing the landscape architecture planning.

The existing green roof has been expanded while a new 1-acre urban farm has also been added along with a pavilion and greenhouse space that will save about 8 million gallons of stormwater annually in addition to providing fresh produce to the center’s catering and dining operations year-round.

“This expansion comes at a critical time for our city, our state and our industry and serves as a sign of hope and rebirth for New Yorkers,” New York Convention Center Operating Corp. CEO Alan Steel said in an earlier statement. “With new dynamic spaces and a focus on sustainability and efficiency, this project will reduce our impact on the community while improving our operations and allowing us to host a greater variety of events than ever before.”

Local laws have mandated green roofs — or solar panels — in Manhattan since late 2019. 

90,000 square feet of exhibition space have also been added. Trade Center News Network has more on the renovations here.